My AC unit stopped blowing cold air last week so I called a repair man to come fix it. I know very little about AC units, I just know that one day it was cold and the next it was hot.

One the first day the repair man came out he said the unit was completely out of freon so he filled it up with 7 pounds. The unit ran cool for about three hours and then returned to blowing hot air again. I called the repair man to come out a second time. He said he would test for leaks since the freon left so quickly. He found 2 leaks, soldered them with silver and then put another 7 pounds of freon in the unit.

Since the second repair my unit has been working fine but I was surprised to receive a bill for $822. That just seems high considering that I didn't have to have any parts replaced. Is this a resonable amount? I live in Dallas TX and the temperatures have been rediculously high lately if that matters. The detail of my bill are as follows:

14 pounds of r-22 freon ($25/pound) $350
Silver solder and supplies $35
Tech labor and 2 service calls $375

Service call description: found leak in outside condenser after presuring with nitrogen. Caused by factory defect at original assembly. 2 H. side copper tubes were touching and wore through. Silver soldered and bent apart for clearance pressure test again and evacuate and recharge with r-22. Unit now cooling well.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I appreicate any insight you might have on this.

Sounds fair to me... that's roughly $187 per visit... including tech labor plus supplies.

Supplies seem in order as well. Consider it takes time to drive there and back, set up and pack up,. vehicles cost money as well as fuel... business taxes etc... before he even gets to keep anything for his own time, etc. Then you see why it costs what it does for someone to come to your house to do work... be it electrician, plumber.. etc.

If you had called for a Sunday or evening call, it would have been far higher.


P.S. If you want a shock... and have an older car or truck. Price R-12 sometime.

It does seem high since they didn't fix it the first time. Did they give you any breaks for having to do it over the second time? If not you might want to call and complain.

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Originally Posted by smoothy

Sounds fair to me....that's roughly $187 per visit...including tech labor.

Supplies seem in order as well. Consider it takes time to drive there and back, set up and pack up,...vehicles cost money as well as fuel....business taxes etc.....before he even gets to keep anything for his own time, etc. Then you see why it costs what it does for someone to come to your house to do work...be it electrician, plumber..etc.

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The problem comes in that it appears the first job was a rush job and they didn't check for leaks. If it had been found on the first trip much of the bill may have been avoided.

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Originally Posted by califdadof3

The problem comes in that it appears the first job was a rush job and they didnt check for leaks. If it had been found on the first trip much of the bill may have been avoided.

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Sounds a lot easier than it really is. If you've ever done A/C work you would see the point I'm trying to make... that leak could have been anywhere in the system... parts of which are very difficult to locate or test. Outside leaks can be very difficult to locate if there is even the slightest breeze.

I don't do it for a living... or for anyone else... but I do have the equipment and know how to use it. I do have a license for automotive A/C systems, which work the same way but on a smaller scale.

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Originally Posted by smoothy

Sounds a lot easier than it really is. If you've ever done A/C work you would see the point I'm trying to make.......that leak could have been anywhere in the system....parts of which are very difficult to locate. Outside leaks can be very difficult to locate if there is even the slightest breeze.

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Yes I have worked on my own a/c units but not as a profession. I am in the service industry. That is why I am making the statements that I am. If we have to go back to a job then it is considered rework. Usually the customer gets a break so long as it is related to the original call. In this case it seems to have a direct relation.

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Originally Posted by califdadof3

Yes I have worked on my own a/c units but not as a profession. I am in the service industry. That is why I am making the statements that I am. If we have to go back to a job then it is considered rework. Usually the customer gets a break so long as it is related to the original call. In this case it seems to have a direct relation.

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We don't know how that charge was split... or if it was pushed as an emergency call... I'll bet he was working 12+ hour days as well as the record high temperatures were undoubtedly causing a abnormal high volume of service calls (I know they are here). Judgement calls get made. You try to get as many people helped as you can because it can be life threatening above the upper 90's F. Routine work gets put off to deal with the emergencies. I'm dealing with that at the office now where stuff that should have been finished two weeks ago that is on hold until they can get back to finish it... A/C failure has a higher priority than a condensate drain issue for example.

I don't doubt if it was in the 80's the steps taken might have been different. In my line of work you can take more time with each customer when the demand is lower... but when things stack up you use your judgement to expedite things to get as many taken care of as you can. Once in a while you don't catch everything the first time around.

I will agree, leaks should have been checked the first time, if they had done a test, found the leaks, they would not have needed all of the feon and the second trip.

Personally I would dispute the bill on or for that reason, that it is not your fault they did not find the leak the first time.